Chapter 290: Underestimation leads to Consequences
=Unexpected.=
=Indeed…what happened at that time?=
=Oh dear…think he’ll do that again?=
=Amen…think he will able to tank the hit?=
=Fair enough…think he’ll throw up?=
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“So it’s agreed then? We leave for the Pearl Scale Empire in two weeks time, together?,” Zhen Wang asked in confirmation.
“Correct, it’ll give us time to get our affairs in order,” Zhen Shi answered.
‘As well as figure out if you’re fucking with me,’ he thought to himself.
The two old men proceeded to shake hands as a sign of sealing the deal. That being said, both were rather reluctant in doing so out of weariness, but their reasons for this weariness were very different from one another.
In the case of Zhen Shi, he was weary from the practical standpoint of having to fight off assassins and would-be wannabe bounty hunters for the better part of several decades. This was literally the one and only “friendly” interaction he’s ever had with one of these killers. Actually there was one other time, but that was a whole saga and they were wearing an aether tool mask…story for another time.
On Zhen Wang’s end, he was still under the impression that this criminal of passions was under the protection of an Aether Overlord that could turn him, his disciple and all of his men into finely minced meatballs with a blink of an eye.
He wasn’t entirely wrong in this assumption, but it sure as shit wasn’t an Overlord threatening his ass.
“Well then, with our business concluded, I shall see myself out,” Zhen Wang said as he walked towards door. However, just as he was about to leave, he recalled something important.
“Actually, my disciple is still at the training grounds and I don’t remember where that is. Do you mind pointing me in the right direction?”
“I’ll go with you,” Zhen Shi answered as he got up from his desk,”it’s only the polite thing to do.”
“Ah. Thank you.”
An awkward-ish silence fell upon the two of them as they walked through the Zhen Clan estate’s hallways to get to the training grounds. They had to fill the air with something to keep the silence at bay, but the question was what.
‘Weather? No. Past experiences? Fuck no. Disciples? … yeah that works.’
“So…,” Zhen Shi started, “what’s the deal with your disciple, Zhen Li? Is he your son or grandson or something?”
“Ah, grandnephew actually,” Zhen Wang corrected, “he’s a talented youth with remarkably fast progress for his age. I took him under my wing because the lad turned out to have fully compatibility with my own formula.”
“Oh wow, that’s rare.”
“Indeed, his future is very bright,” Zhen Wang nodded with a smile, “however…he does have one issue…”
“Oh?”
“Zhen Li’s temper is a bit…short. He’s respectful of his elders and those stronger than himself of course, but in the face of his peers…he has a tendency to overreact.”
“That…seems like a detriment.”
“He’s gotten better under my tutelage, but there are days he still acts out. Honestly, I think he needs some proper shock therapy to get that out of his system.”
“Yeah…I understand that…I have an equally troublesome grandson. His heart is in the right place, but his head is as strong as iron.”
“Oof…”
The two of them walked and talked a bit further until the entrance to the training grounds was in sight, the sound of roaring aether and battle flowing out of it…only for it to suddenly stop after a particularly loud explosion of aether.
“That can’t be good.”
Both Zhen Shi and Zhen Wang shared a look for a brief second before immediately rushing for the door.
Once they entered the room and see what caused the silence, they were both stunned.
“Oh…shit.”
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As Zhen Li rushed towards Zhen Liu, an absurdly dense amount of Aquarii aether began to form around his body, with the highest concentration gathering around his open palm and arm.
The watery form of a huge river dragon began to form from the condensing aether, with the head forming around his hand and the body trailing from his arm.
The sight of the majestic looking art illicited three very different reactions.
The first: utter shock and awe.
“By the gods, is that a World class art?!”
“Nah man, its a major Ethereal one, but it’s fucking close to being a World one!”
“Why the fuck is Zhen Liu just standing there?! Block or dodge, man!”
The second: justified worry.
“What the fuck are you doing Xiao Liu?! Get out of the way!,” Zhen Yue shouted as she watched this main branch guy about to slam a heavy attack into her cousin. Worried for her cousin’s well-being, Zhen Yue rushed forward in an attempt to block the attackbor at least get Zhen Liu out of the way. Unfortunately, while she probably had the skills or endurance necessary to do so, she didn’t have the time nor speed to execute it.
The third: mild shock and pure disdain.
‘That it?,’ Zhen Liu thought to himself as he watched the encroaching palm, ‘I think the Marquis had a flashier move than this, stronger too…’
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=Doubtful, that place is locked tight and under at least a mile of ocean. Look at how rough the execution is. I think it’s more likely it’s a copycat art or incomplete at least…if it was his art then it should be swinging at intermediate World at minimum, remember?=
[Hold the fuck up, we could invent our own arts? This whole time?!,] Hurricroak complained.
[Also…curious…]
[Doesn’t matter either way, but I would like to know the answer as well.]
[Oh…then when can we?]
=You want that as empirical data or…=
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It didn’t really cross Zhen Li’s mind at this point as to why Zhen Liu didn’t even make a token effort to dodge or block his incoming attack, all that went through his mind was the satisfying thought of smashing his palm into Zhen Liu’s unprotected chest and watching him get sent flying out of the arena with more than just a few broken bones, perhaps a few shattered organs on top of that.
‘I’ll make you kneel, I’ll make you beg, I’ll make you see the gap of inferiority that exists between a puppeteering mutt and a true blooded warrior like myself. I can’t wait to see your face twisted in fear and pain!’
If Zhen Li wasn’t so wrapped up in his own pride and rage, he would have noticed that Zhen Liu’s face wasn’t twisted in worry or panic, just sheer fucking rage. As well, he would have noticed that Zhen Liu’s clenched fist was radiating an aura that was very similar to the ones belonging to some monsters that had scarred him not too long ago.
A second later, Zhen Li reached out his palm and slammed it into Zhen Liu’s chest, causing the watery river dragon covering his arm to rush forward in tandem.
<
BOOM!
An explosion of steam, aether and dust rocked the arena as Zhen Li’s palm made contact, causing the on-lookers to use their own aether as a means to protect themselves from the fallout or at the very least get the hell out of the way.
“Goddamn that was a lot of power! I don’t even think Zhen Hai could have blocked something like that without using an art!”
“There’s so much crap in the air, I can’t see a thing!”
“Too much aether interference! I can’t detect shit!”
“Is the Fourth Young Master okay?! Someone check on them now!”
“Wait, I got this. [Big Gust!]”
A disciple of the Zhen Clan who happened to have an Aeroqii affinity used a minor Corporeal to strengthen his lungs and literally blow away the obscuring cloud. When the steam and dust settled, everyone was rendered slack-jawed by what was revealed.
“He’s…okay?!”
“Holy shit…”
“Ah, that main branch guy’s gonna get it now…”
“Xiao Liu…what the hell are you made of?,” Zhen Yue muttered as she stopped dead in her tracks, equally shocked.
A good chunk of the crowd had their shit kicked in by the main branch disciple known as Zhen Li and could testify about the sheer strength of the man, even if he was holding back.
